Pages

30/05/2017

Cannes you handle it?

With the close of the film festival and the last Monaco
stragglers filtering through Nice customs, this year’s much awaited starlet
vacance is over until 2018. I can finally reflect on my mini break with my
partner in crime, colleague and bombshell bestie Emily,

Each year, assistants pack up haute couture and glam squads
get their brushes at the ready whilst celebs begin juice cleanses to look their
best at the magic that is Cannes film festival. Meanwhile, in north London each
year I am sat browsing asos for the best celeb style pieces and a special dress
in case this year I am whisked off to a premiere (although I am still unsure
about sitting in an evening gown in a glorified cinema, it’s a must do right?).

This year’s round-up of celeb style finds:

Wildfox, £145

Asos, £35

Asos, £60

Mango, £35.99

Zara, £39.99

Zara, £90

This year as spectacular as every, perhaps even more so, we attended
the parties, brushed
shoulders with the most beautiful and influential, ate truffle macaroni three
times in four days, drank our weight in prosecco and minute rosé and shopped
boutiques for bikinis, straw and pompomed bags and evening dresses in the form
of shreds of lace. My dresses got more than a few outings each and we had many
a sunrise uber ride home with a special mention to being approached for a
street style photo in the morning in our dresses that we had put on at 6pm the
night before- suffice to say we did not oblige.

The one thing about Cannes is the sheer cost of ‘living it up’.
It is near impossible to bear witness to numerous of bottles of Dom in every
club, the half-eaten lobsters gracing the restaurant tables and the covetable
but astronomical dresses on every leggy lady catwalking past without buckling
under the pressure and Amex tapping your way around. With this in mind, I have
pored through menus and hotspot guides far and wide to present you with the
most budget friendly picks without compromising on the star feeling that you
deserve over the film festival.

Tea at the Armani café

Perfect for people watching- a must in Cannes not only for
the celebrities but also the old men in panamas with their bleached rails of
wives teetering in Loubs and trailing Chanel shoppers. Having a slice of cake
and tea is the ultimate luxury. Bring some big sunnies to hide your stares.

Dinner at Le Maschou

Le Maschou is famous worldwide as you may have seen in last
year’s Cannes post here. There is a set menu payable upon booking so you can
forget about it and just enjoy the evening. For a set menu of 49 euros, your
table is laden with the signature crudités basket, fire cooked bread, meat,
jacket potatoes, dips and you finish with mousse au chocolat, peaches, tarte au
citron the list goes on… Be sure to book in advance as a table on the night n’est
pas possible!

A stroll or uber lux down La Croisette

Window shopping (or window licking in French and probably
more accurate in my case) is not only free but deliciously satisfying in
Cannes. Pick out your dream red carpet outfits and be sure to linger outside to
Martinez to catch any starlets.

Hopping on a friend’s yacht

Yes I agree this is highly subjective to you having a friend
with a yacht but they are hotly available if you hang around in the right
places. Not only is it free but it is the best way to spend a day.

Rosé and nibbles chez vous

Although you may pay hundreds of euros for a magnum of rosé,
in the local supermarkets the best is very reasonably priced. Our favourite was
minute and if you pick up a bottle along with some olives and crisps, you have
yourself a very civilised aperitif or ‘apero’.

Boutique shopping in Juan Les Pins

Cannes is filled with beautiful boutiques at high prices
which are admittedly irresistible but if you venture 20 minutes along the main
road towards Nice you will happen upon Juan Les Pins, a slightly more budget
friendly but equally gorgeous town which is bursting with boutiques. They
change names frequently but never cease to consist of finds that will lead to
eye rolls when you tell your envious friends they are only available in South
of France. We came across the most gorgeous Valentino sandal copies, lacey
playsuits, handmade and hand customised denim shorts and a little boutique that
weekly ships her picks from stockists in Milan.

Private concerts at Vip Room or Gotha

Across the film festival every year, there are pop up clubs
such as Vip room and guest performances from some of the biggest names, this
year being Tyga, Martin Solveig, Fetty Wap and a collaboration with 1OAK. The
great thing about these nights is that essentially they turn into private
concerts with never more than 25 euro entry. Girls often don’t have to pay and
get shoved onto tables and if you are with friends willing to buy a table then
even better.

Okay so this isn’t budget friendly but…

Lunch at the Eden Roc

Not only are you sure to spot celebrities but the food is
delicious, the surroundings are spectacular and it is well worth the treat.
Stick to a salad and share a bottle of rosé and you won’t go too wrong.

So after catching all the last minute sun we could, we eagerly are awaiting next year...